The Smile at the Foot of The Ladder

New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1948. Miller, Henry "The Smile at the Foot of The Ladder." First edition of Miller's story of a clown -- "A clown is a poet in action" -- pre-obscenity trial while much of his work was banned in the United States. Features a stamp from Lawrence R. Maxwell Books at 45 Christopher St., where Anais Nin is said to have worked in her younger years. The book was designed by well-known New York set designer and theater producer Merle Armitage, the book bares reproductions throughout of art works from the likes of Paul Klee, Chagall, Lautrec, Picasso and more. Book and dust jacket are each structurally intact, but both show signs of wear throughout. Spine leans to the right with extensive with a faint stain to bottom extremity. The spine shows rubbing at the publisher name on spine and some fraying at the top. Corners rubbed but mostly sharp, with slight bumps to the top two. Jacket sports chipping throughout, with the largest at the tops and bottoms of the spine. Some creasing. Toning at the folds of the jacket from handling. Jacket to be wrapped in archival sleeve. Still, an affordable copy of a unique Miller text. It is not only published pre-obscenity trial, but with express advocating for Miller by Edwin Corle in the forward. That we can place it in New York City from Anais Nin's former employee no less should be enough to entice any Miller enthusiast. 124 pp.